The 2011 NBA All-Star uniforms go Hollywood

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Winging back from New York Fashion Week on Friday, I thought I’d get at least a brief respite from fashion-focused events -- until I remembered the NBA All-Star game was taking place in Los Angeles this weekend. (Tip-off is scheduled for 5 p.m. PST on Sunday on TNT.)

That’s how Saturday night the City of Angels found itself home to two high-profile sneaker launch parties -- Ron Artest posted up at the Roosevelt Hotel for the debut of his Ball’n line (reported here by my compatriot Raha Lewis) while a few miles away, the hazy, smoke-filled (and it wasn’t from dry ice, friendo) downtown Standard Hotel was the scene of a raucous party celebrating a limited-edition Adidas X Snoop Dogg shoe collaboration.

His Snoopness -- who didn’t take the stage until after 1 a.m. Sunday -- showed up clad in a Laker gold track jacket with the signature Adidas three stripes in purple down the arm and 16 squares representing each of the Lakers’ NBA titles emblazoned on the back.

Between songs, the Doggfather had words of high praise for the German apparel and footwear brand. ‘Adidas is what real hip-hop is all about,’ he enthused at one point. ‘They ... with Snoop Dogg in a real way, you know?’ he said at another, using a not-fit-for-a-family-newspaper colloquialism.

But the joint project with Snoop is far from Adidas’ only high-profile presence this weekend, with the appearance of several new shoes on the court during Sunday’s game (you can get a full run-down in a news release here) on the feet of Adidas-sponsored athletes.

And all of the athletes taking the floor at Staples Center will be wearing Adidas uniforms, which were designed to pay homage to both the host city and a milestone anniversary for the All-Star game.

The folks at the National Basketball Assn. tell me that the block-style lettering of the words ‘WEST’ and ‘EAST’ were inspired by the ‘glitz and glamour of Hollywood’ (i.e., they kind of look like the letters in the Hollywood sign), and, as a tribute to to the 60th (diamond) anniversary of the NBA All-Star game, the uniforms are designed with a subtle diamond pattern that is supposed to be visible when hit by the arena lights.

The West’s uniforms are in red with gold accents, the East’s are blue with silver accents, and, as of this writing, both are still available for purchase at the NBA’s online store for $99.99.

Of course, if you want one to wear during the game, your best bet is to hustle down to the Adidas Sport Performance Store at 1231 Third Street Promenade in Santa Monica, which informs me they’ve got plenty of both on hand, and will be open until 8 p.m.

-- Adam Tschorn